Lochcarron Community Development Company is a community run organisation. Managing local woodlands, creating affordable housing, running Café Ceàrdach, a tree house, cultural, environmental and heritage projects, training and employment, for local sustainability.

In keeping with our commitment to keep the community updated on progress across the activities of LCDC we would like to give you an update on matters.

“It’s all go down at the Smithy !!!!!!

The board of LCDC are excited to announce that financial assistance, much by way of grant funding, has been secured in principle to extend the provision of community focused activities both at the Smithy Hub and in our woodland area.

By securing the award of some £335K of financial assistance LCDC will be able to redevelop and extend their existing iGallery building to provide a Delicatessen, Gallery and Café facility providing a social space for the local community and visitors alike, will be called Café Ceardach, (The Smithy Café).

In keeping with one of the main aims of LCDC this will initially create five much needed employment opportunities with the intention to extend this to seven positions within 12 months. It will also secure a much-needed revenue stream to enable the other projects and aspirations of LCDC to be progressed, including the provision of affordable housing and skills development opportunities.

In securing the grant funding and other financial assistance the letters of support from across the community were very important and we would like to extend a massive thank you to all those local businesses, Lochcarron and District Business Association and their members for that support.

The new facility will be open all year round with a view to providing local sourced produce for both retail sale through our Delicatessen and also be used to create the menu of the Café. Our retail space will provide a shop window for many local artists and craftsmen and craftswomen. This will further enhance the footfall and income opportunities for other outlets at the Smithy Hub site.

In keeping with the desire to embrace a “green, low food miles agenda” electric vehicle charging points will be provided in the car park, cycle storage and free water refills to walkers and cyclists. Similarly, the Delicatessen will encourage customers to “bring your own container” for purchase of produce to reduce packaging.

The funding has been secured from a range of funders including £25K from The Princes Countryside Fund, the only Scottish application to be approved.

We have also been fortunate to augment our funding applications with support from Scottish Seafarms and PLT which will enable the erection of a woodland shelter for use by local schoolchildren and the development of a sensory trail within the woodland.

I hope to be able to disclose more details in the coming weeks with provisional timings for commencement of the works and our eagerly awaited Grand Opening.

Thanks again to all those who have supported this project. – Colin Sharp – Chair – LCDC